There’s a snake during Roger’s first sermon in Outlander Book 6, Chapter 58
After taking some time off to focus on Outlander Season 6, we’re back with the Outlander Book Club. We’re jumping back into A Breath of Snow and Ashes, picking up with the first chapter of Part Eight of the book.
Chapter 58 sees Roger return to the Ridge after his time being ordained. He has to do his first service, which he learns everyone at the Ridge is coming to hear. Even Claire and Jamie show up at the service, and it’s likely a good thing considering what happens.
There’s a snake in the service. A literal snake. We know Jamie’s thoughts about snakes considering the bite he faced in The Fiery Cross, but even he is better to have in the service when it comes to dealing with a creature. He doesn’t react the way most people would seeing a snake.
I don’t note too much in the way of foreshadowing in this chapter. That’s mostly because I think it’s just setting the stones for the second half of the story.
We also didn’t see this chapter used in Outlander Season 6. I was disappointed in that, and I’ll share why in the adaptation section of the post.
Let’s dive into A Breath of Snow and Ashes Chapter 58.
Just the Outlander chapter
The chapter starts with Roger returning from being ordained. He needs to get ready for his first service, which is going to take place in the schoolmaster’s home. That Christie’s home, as Tom is the schoolmaster. There isn’t a church on the Ridge right now, and the schoolmaster’s home is a little more accommodating than other cabins on the Ridge.
During the first service, Roger is interrupted by a snake in the place. He doesn’t want others to be alerted by it. He can see that it’s not a venomous snake, but the others wouldn’t believe that. Fortunately, Jamie is there, and he manages to grab the snake. Claire sees what he has, and she ends up putting it in her pocket. Brianna is just confused by the whole situation not realizing there was a snake.
I laughed so much throughout this scene. It really is a shame that it wasn’t included in the show.
After that, people share their thoughts about the sermon. There are comments about him missing parts of the story he chose, and comments about using Latin. Roger doesn’t really understand what they mean. It’s clear that people weren’t fully listening.
During the night, Roger has a nightmare. He realizes that he knows the man he killed that night he went with Jamie to save Claire. It was a thieftaker from the Gathering. Roger notes to Brianna that he meant to kill the guy.
Foreshadowing in the Outlander chapter
I think the real bit of foreshadowing was the part at the very end. Roger has remembered the man he killed, a man he meant to kill. He did it without thought.
There is still a lot for Roger to think about in his life. There’s a lot that he needs to settle within himself, especially with the war coming up. This chapter really does foreshadow that as he focuses on the things he’ll do to protect his family and the things he feels he should be doing now as a minister.
Adapting A Breath of Snow and Ashes chapter
I do wish we could have seen this chapter in Outlander Season 6. I just found the part with the snake so hilarious, and I would have loved to see it all play out.
Of course, there is time for this. There is a seventh season, and that’s the point where Roger will be ordained. However, he was doing plenty of sermons on Sundays already in the series without being ordained.
I guess there wasn’t the time to add this in during the season, so I do understand why it wasn’t included. I also understand why we didn’t get all the comments about his first sermon. I did love the sixth season and didn’t feel like much was missing, but that doesn’t stop this chapter being one of my favorites for the humor.
What did you spot while reading A Breath of Snow and Ashes Chapter 58? Let us know in the comments below.
Like Claire and Jamie on Facebook for the latest from the Outlander Book Club and much more.